Engine coolant level?

[mwilk012]

I remember back in the day adding something like coolant was not rocket science, all we did was pick up a jug of Prestone and mix it 50/50 and keep the res tank at least 1/2 full we never used turkey basters or any exact science of measuring coolant.

I to have fallen into this trap as well but anymore after washing my Jeep ( once a week ) I just visually inspect all res tanks and check oil and look for any leaks and as long as the tanks and levels are not dropping I move on, life is to short to worry if my coolant tank is a 1/4” higher or lower than it was yesterday.

You can still do that just fine. Generic coolant will not last as long though.

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[TaiMc]

@redsyphon

I'd hold off and buy the fluid say at Amazon. Local Jeep place will charge to much for the same fluid you can get in a couple of days from Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017DP43ZC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

IF, you have never added coolant that level is probably just a refection of such.... nothing wrong, you just haven't added fluid over the last 3 years. 8-)

Around the reservoir, look for pinkish dried mist.. look at seams and at connection points. In the pic all looks aok..

CURIOUS ..... what is the deal with the clack zip ties on the reservoir. They are not factory.

Just bought this using your link...thank you! ?? I just had an engine replacement (last week) with my jeep and popped the hood tonight to see that the coolant level is at minimum level while Jeep is hot ( coolant temp while in operation: 185F-221F). I’m assuming it will be lower in the morning after it has cooled.

Wondering if they topped it off within spec or if it’s low lol…

Great thread btw ?

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Just bought this using your link...thank you! ?? I just had an engine replacement (last week) with my jeep and popped the hood tonight to see that the coolant level is at minimum level while Jeep is hot ( collant temp while in operation: 185F-221F). I’m assuming it will be lower in the morning after it has cooled.

Wondering if they topped it off within spec or if it’s low lol…

Great thread btw ?

@TaiMc

About that MIN level line you see on the reservoir itself ...... place a bright flashlight beam on that area and you will see an raised arrow on each side of the word MIN. One arrow points to the max line and the other to the min. line.

When the vehicle is cold, the fluid should be halfway between the min and max lines.

 

[TaiMc]

@TaiMc

About that MIN level line you see on the reservoir itself ...... place a bright flashlight beam on that area and you will see an raised arrow on each side of the word MIN. One arrow points to the max line and the other to the min. line.

When the vehicle is cold, the fluid should be halfway between the min and max lines.

I gotchu. Will check in the morning. ?????

 

[blnewt]

I gotchu. Will check in the morning. ?????

What happened to your first motor?

 

[TaiMc]

What happened to your first motor?

Blown head gaskets...coolant leak went into block and warped my cylinders. Was burned through to the exhaust so no visual coolant leak anywhere. I had no clue it was happening; no error codes for any of it (no low coolant, temperature light, engine light, no burning smell). The only code it showed was the ESS (after the cylinders were warped) and that's when I took it in. First dealer thought it was faulty EGR cooler, which wasn't covered under my service contract. 2nd dealer looked in the cylinders and found them warped with coolant inside. Since it was engine failure and no fault of mine, FCA honored the contract.

Happened at 61k miles; 1k miles outside of Power train warranty. However, I purchased an Extended warranty in 2018 with my Jeep (added care plus: lifetime/unlimited mileage warranty) and I paid $100 deductible for a new a block. They had it for 44 days. It took the FCA adjuster/inspector 25 days to come look at it while it was sitting at the dealer...and then to approve it. Just got it back last week...

Edit: Description of work/invoice: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...s-it-straight-out-of-the-gc.2908/post-2099166

 

[blnewt]

Blown head gaskets...coolant leak went into block and warped my cylinders. Was burned through to the exhaust so no visual coolant leak anywhere. I had no clue it was happening; no error codes for any of it (no low coolant, temperature light, engine light, no burning smell). The only code it showed was the ESS (after the cylinders were warped) and that's when I took it in. First dealer thought it was faulty EGR cooler, which wasn't covered under my service contract. 2nd dealer looked in the cylinders and found them warped with coolant inside. Since it was engine failure and no fault of mine, FCA honored the contract.

Happened at 61k miles; 1k miles outside of Power train warranty. However, I purchased an Extended warranty in 2018 with my Jeep (added care plus: lifetime/unlimited mileage warranty) and I paid $100 deductible for a new a block. They had it for 44 days. It took the FCA adjuster/inspector 25 days to come look at it while it was sitting at the dealer...and then to approve it. Just got it back last week...

Edit: Description of work/invoice: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...s-it-straight-out-of-the-gc.2908/post-2099166

Wow! Sure glad you got it covered and finally got it back, quite the ordeal
Jeep on!!!

 

[TaiMc]

@TaiMc

About that MIN level line you see on the reservoir itself ...... place a bright flashlight beam on that area and you will see an raised arrow on each side of the word MIN. One arrow points to the max line and the other to the min. line.

When the vehicle is cold, the fluid should be halfway between the min and max lines.

It was low when I checked today. I added some coolant to the minimum line (where the joint is on the reservoir).

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

Checked mine at 8K miles. Do you guys think I should top off? To the joint line or right below the MAX down arrow?

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Checked mine at 8K miles. Do you guys think I should top off? To the joint line or right below the MAX down arrow?

Yes, you need to add coolant. Do that when the JL is cold.... Read earlier posts in this thread regarding proper fill level when vehicle is cold.

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

Yes, you need to add coolant. Do that when the JL is cold.... Read earlier posts in this thread regarding proper fill level when vehicle is cold.

Thank you! I’ve gone through the thread and educated myself. Will top off to the seam line to MIN level since it’s cold here in PA. The level may go up when it’s warmer outside and I’ll also monitor before another top off. Will buy the 50/50 Prediluted from Amazon as you had suggested.

Always appreciate the shared wisdom!

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

@Rhinebeck01 so I added the coolant when the engine was COLD yesterday, maybe slightly above the seam line but still right below the MIN down arrow tip (garage floor is not super flat). This morning after driving 15 miles I checked the level again right after shutting down the engine. And the level is over the MAX down arrow, almost to the upper edge. Do you think I should pump some out and keep the level right below the down arrow when engine HOT? There's still room for expansion if it gets hotter.

Either my OCD or I worry about too much...

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@Rhinebeck01 so I added the coolant when the engine was COLD yesterday, maybe slightly above the seam line but still right below the MIN down arrow tip (garage floor is not super flat). This morning after driving 15 miles I checked the level again right after shutting down the engine. And the level is over the MAX down arrow, almost to the upper edge. Do you think I should pump some out and keep the level right below the down arrow when engine HOT? There's still room for expansion if it gets hotter.

Either my OCD or I worry about too much...

@Fast-n-Furious

You said the engine was "COLD" and you filled it to at, or close to the Min level.

With that said, I'd just leave it be..

It's normal to see that coolant fluid level go up when the vehicle is warming up/warm/hot.
As the vehicle cools down the coolant level in the reservoir drops.

Do routinely check the fluid level in the reservoir when the vehicle is cold. Add fluid as necessary when the vehicle is cold..,

 

[Fast-n-Furious]

@Fast-n-Furious

You said the engine was "COLD" and you filled it to at, or close to the Min level.

With that said, I'd just leave it be..

It's normal to see that coolant fluid level go up when the vehicle is warming up/warm/hot.
As the vehicle cools down the coolant level in the reservoir drops.

Do routinely check the fluid level in the reservoir when the vehicle is cold. Add fluid as necessary when the vehicle is cold..,

Yes, after my rig parked for 5 hours, the coolant level was 1/2" below the seam line. And that's when I added the coolant to the seam line maybe a bit higher, but still below the MIN down arrow tip.

The only reason I was thinking about pumping some out to keep the level right at the MAX down arrow tip when the engine is HOT is just to have a perfect level, my OCD at the same time. And I'm afraid the coolant may overflow since it's almost at the TOP of the MAX mark when I checked HOT. And possibly mess up the engine bay. I guess this won't happen? I tent to overthink many things...

 

[TaiMc]

Yes, after my rig parked for 5 hours, the coolant level was 1/2" below the seam line. And that's when I added the coolant to the seam line maybe a bit higher, but still below the MIN down arrow tip.

The only reason I was thinking about pumping some out to keep the level right at the MAX down arrow tip when the engine is HOT is just to have a perfect level, my OCD at the same time. And I'm afraid the coolant may overflow since it's almost at the TOP of the MAX mark when I checked HOT. And possibly mess up the engine bay. I guess this won't happen? I tent to overthink many things...

I'd just leave it and only check the level after the Jeep has sat over night. I wouldn't consider checking it after the engine has stopped running for some hours. That might not be a "cold" status.

Let it sit over night, then pop the hood the next day and check your level. That level will be an authentic cold level which is what the reservoir levels are an indication for. If the cold level is over the max line after it has sat over night, then you have overfilled it.

Others can chime in about whether or not that's a major problem.

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